Two surveys released last week say that small-business owners are feeling better than they’ve felt in more than three years and most have a positive outlook for growth and hiring. The skeptical speculator says the global economy gives no hint of recession in 2012. Some bloggers see a bleak but improving economic outlook. But the chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab says it’s unlikely there will be a really strong recovery. Floyd Norris says United States and global growth is well below expectations. John Hussman says we’re still going into a recession and stocks could fall 25 percent. Rick Newman lists six things that could derail the economy. Some people think the United States is heading in the right direction.

A miraculous NASA breakthrough could save millions of lives. A revolutionary large-wheeled robot is strong enough to tow a car and dexterous enough to open its trunk using the handle. Floating cities will be a reality within a decade. A new company tries to simplify event booking. Two entrepreneurs create a textbook case study of success. The Better Business Bureau unveils its top 10 scams of 2011, including: “Some hotels are warning about a scam in which guests receive calls in the middle of the night purportedly from the desk clerk, who needs to verify your credit information. Of course, it isn’t the desk clerk.” A couple of companies are bringing down the price of solar. Susan Cain explains how to succeed as an introvert: “Introverts have to find the places where they are comfortable stretching themselves and pushing themselves a little bit, while giving themselves the recharge time that they need.” Jack in the Box introduces bacon milkshakes.

Meet the young entrepreneurs remaking New Orleans: Brittany, Jennifer, Michael and Kimberly. “All of the bright, go-getting, 20-somethings … are part of New Orleans’s post-Katrina explosion of entrepreneurialism and development, which has made the city a hub for socially minded millennials.”

Place to Get Advice. Ryan Waggoner says to get your advice from the second best, not the best: “Now, you want to become a great athlete and you can ask either of these guys for advice. You ask the first guy, right? Most of us would, but I wonder if that’s the wise move. Yes, the first guy will have good advice. … But he can’t share with you the heart and soul of earning it. … He can’t tell you about the dark nights of incompetence and wondering if you should just give up. He can’t tell you how to change. In other words, if you want to be faster or stronger, don’t ask the one who has always been the fastest or the strongest; they were probably born that way. Ask the one who has improved the most.”

Diet Advice. Christopher Nagy says that this year we should all eat like a caveman: “A Paleolithic diet consists primarily of whole foods, animal protein — preferably from grass-fed and wild-caught species — fruits in limited amounts, nuts and good oils (olive, fish and coconut oil). … The advantage of the Paleo diet is that it controls and diminishes the release of insulin. High insulin levels promote aging and play a large role in many of the chronic degenerative diseases of aging, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s.”

Reason to Go Back to Bed. Robert Gonzalez says there are 10 reasons to go back to bed, including, “If you don’t, you’ll die”: “Experiments in rats have shown that continuous sleep deprivation for upwards of two weeks inevitably leads to death; and outcomes are also fatal in rare cases where humans are literally unable to sleep.”

This Week’s Question: You probably know what digital cameras have done to Kodak, but do you know who invented the digital camera? You can find the answer here.

Gene Marks owns the Marks Group, a Bala Cynwyd, Pa., consulting firm that helps clients with customer relationship management. You can follow him on Twitter.

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You're the Boss offers an insider's perspective on small-business ownership. It gives business owners a place where they can compare notes, ask questions, get advice, and learn from one another's mistakes. The blog also offers analysis of policy issues, and suggests investing tips.